Esther – Green Wing Macaw

Esther
Green-winged Macaw
Esther is a 5yr old Greenwing Macaw. She has been plucking and stopped talking since the age of 2 when her owner brought home a new wife. She was with her original owner until she was 4 yrs old as they tried to keep her. She was put on antidepresants since she first started plucking. In her second home she was weaned off the antidepresants but continued to pluck and became quite phobic. She wouldn’t allow anyone to touch her When we went to rescue her she was terrified and would thrash around in her cage and would bite to escape. It took quite a while to get her home and stable. Once Ester arrived here we talked calmly to her and started to touch her gently. We treated her as though she was not phobic and integrated her within the family immediately. Within a week she was stepping up and started to speak! She is a permanent fixture here now and she will step up for anyone. She gives great kisses and loves to admire herself in the mirror. She is also learning new words and loves to be around the other birds. **Update – Esther has found her singing voice and loves to entertain us in the evenings. She has also learned to play a few games like fetch. She will now step up for anyone but watch your buttons as she is a button thief! Esther will never get her feathers back due to folicle damage.  Many attempts have been made with negative results.  But she is a happy and healthy bald bird!